Apparatus for welding rails under traffic



Aug. 21, 1928.

' J. H. DEPPELER APPARATUS FOR WELDING RAILS UNDER TRAFFIC 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 16. 1926 Aug. 21, 1928. I 1,681,571

J. H. DEPPELER APPARATUS FOR WELDING RAILS UNDER TRAFFIC Filed Feb. 16, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. H. DEPPELER APPARATUS FOR WELDING RAILS UNDER TRAFFIC Filed Feb. 16, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 3 MWQWQW I A BY.

9 HIS ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. DEPPELER, 0F WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO METAL THERMIT CORPORATION, OF OARTERET, NEW JERSEY, A OORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR WELDING RAILS UNDER TRAFFIC.

Application filed February is, .1926. Serial m. 88,644.

The invention relates tomeans for forming welded rail joints under trafiic by the alumino-thermic or similar procedure and has for its object the provision of special means for supporting the sections of the mold box in proper relation to embrace the ends of the rails to be joined and also tohold the rall ends accurately in alignment, under traffic, afterthe mold has been placed in position; the apparatus preferably being associated with a jumper, or double inclined ramp, which engages the tread of the rails, spanning the joint between the ends, and with means for securing the jumper to the mold box, or to the element securing the same to the rails, as will be more particularly pointed out in the following specification, based upon the accompanying drawings. in which:

Fig. 1. is a plan view of the apparatus as applied to the rails of a standard street fall B igQ is a side elevation ofithe same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectlon on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofthe jumper.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the yokes for securinga mold box section to the rail ends.

Fig. 6 is an end view of theinstallation showing the alumino-thermic crucible in position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of apparatus.

Fig. 8is a transverse section on'the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate the halfsections of a mold forming box or flask, each section comprising side and end walls and a bottom, with an open top. Each respective end wall of each mold box section is fashioned on its inner edge to conform to the contour of the lateral face and half base section of the rails A. A, to be joined, a typical configuration of the rail engaging portions of the end walls of the mold box sections as applied to a standard street railway rail being shown in Fig. 3, in which the upper edges of the mold-box sections are shown as substantially flush with the tread of the rail.

openings in the mold box sections.

.5, 5 having the general configuration of a fish plate or splice bar, as the case may be, and provided with bolt holes 6 to register with the bolt holes in the ends of the rails, so that each yoke is rigidly secured to the rail ends by the bolts 7 which are employed for fastening the fish plates or splice bars in place. Each yoke 4 is,made somewhat larger that the mold box section which it embraces, and screw jacks 10, 10 associated with the respective yokes, serve to force the mold box sections into engagement with the opposite faces of the rails and to hold the two sections of the mold box in properly adjusted relation and prevent any displacement thereof when the wheels of traffic pass over the joint in process of formation of the latter. Each of the yokes and its associated lateral extensions, therefore, in efiect, constitutes a fish plate or splice bar, which notonly serves to lock together the'adjacent ends of the rails to be welded and prevent any relative movement of these rail ends, but also serves to hold its associated mold box section in proper adjustment.

The molding sand, clay, or other mold forming medium, may be applied to the respective mold box sections after the latter have been clamped in position about the ends of the rail, in which case a core of wax, or

similar material which defines the mold cavplied and worked to proper form, which may e readily effected by reason of the accessibility of the interior of the mold box sections through the top or through lateral Alternatively the molding material may be preformed before the box sections are applied to the rails by employing a suitable core having the configuration of the rail ends and the mold cavity defining projections, as will be understood. In either case, the pouring gate, riser and preheating gate are formed in the molding material by appropriate cores in usual manner.

locked to the yoke.

it is formed with lateral tongues 22 As thus constituted and applied, the apparatus may be employed in welding the ends of rails together by the alumino-thermic or similar method without interfering with the regular traflic, as the. vehicle wheels will pass over the rail joint without interfering with or deranging themold and without forcing the adjacent ends of the rails out of alignment, by reason of the rigid connection of the rail ends by the yokes 4, 4 and their lateral extensions, which mutually cooperate to secure the ends of the rails together with the same rigidity as the fish plates or splice bars which the yokes have replaced.

In order to facilitate the pouring of the almino-thermic charge, the yoke 4 connected to the outside of the rail is provided with a bracket 11 having a vertical socket 12 to receive a standard 13, which supports an arm 14 having a ring seat 15 onlts outer end, in which a standard crucible 16 containing the alumino-thermic mixture is supported in vertical alignment with the pouring gate of the mold, so that, when the alumino-thermic reaction has been initiated and the steel to form the joint has been superheated and brought to a degree of highfluidity and the crucible is tapped by knocking out the pin 17 in the bottom thereof, the highly fluid steel will be delivered It will be noted that the crucible may be swung laterally away from the rail to permit the passage of vehicular traffic, should the contingency arise during the operations of setting up the apparatus and eflecting the casting of the joint.

As soon as the joint has been completed, the apparatus may be quickly removed for installation to form the next joint.

Under certain conditions, it ma be found advisable to relieve the ends 0 to be joined by the welding operation, as well as the mold, from the heavy stresses imposed by passing traffic, and, to eifect thi object, a suitable jumper may be associated with the mold and its supporting yoke, such, for example, as the ramplike element 20 shown in Fig. 4, provided with oppositely inclined tread sections 21, which engage t e tread of the rails and extend for; a considerable distance on either side of the break or joint between the rail ends. This jumper is provided with lateral lugs 23 having bifurcated ends 24, which are adapted to engage bracket-like extensions 30 on the upper edges of the yoke 4, said brackets havlng tap holes 31 to receive bolts 32, by means of which the jumper is rigidly To further assist in the jumper in proper position,

fashioned to engage the 'groove' in the rail.

into the mold.

maintaining As thus constructed and applied, the jump-- er serves as a rigid bridge spannlng the the rails accurate alignment, as shown in Figs..1

to 6 inclusive, each of the mold box sections may be provided with integral lateral extenas illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,

the general configuprovided sions 5, 5 said extensions having ration, of fish plates or splice bars, L with bolt holes for securing them to the rail ends by the bolts employed to fasten the regular fish plates or splice bars in position. In this case, the mold box sections 1 and 2, with their lateral extensions 5', 5', are preferably formed of relatively heavy steel castings to supply the necessary strength, each mold box sectionpreferably being provided with reinforcing flanges, such as 40 about its upper marginal edge, 41 about its ends and bottom, and 42 surrounding the lower rtionv of the lateral opening 43 in the si e of the box section; this opening 43 being provided to facilitate the application of the core and the ramming of the mold.

A bracket 11 of the mold box section on the outsidev of the rail, said bracket being provided with a socket 12 to receive the standard 13, upon which the crucible is supported in the manner and form illustrated in. connection with the apparatus hereinbeforedescribed. When the jumper 20 is employed in connection with this form of mold, the flange 40 on the mold box section on the outside of the rail is made wide enough to form seats for the lugs 23, 23 of the jumper and is tapped with suitable holes to receive the bolts 32 by means of which the jumper is locked to the mold box section. It will be understood that, in constructing these mold box sections, the end walls will be fashioned to rather closely engage the base, web and under side of the head of each rail end, so that, when the two sections of the mold box are applied imposition surround the rail ends at all points except the upper face of the rail, including the tread and the groove containing flange, and the lateral extensions of the sections of the box are bolted to the ends of the rails, the entire installation will be rigidly locked to the rails and the ends of the latter will be positively held against any relative movement The operations of forming the mold within the box sections and the-casting of the joint, are practically the same as those described in connection with the preceding form of the apparatus, but, in this particuis securedto the flange 4O to embrace and tween rail ends,

inigbox to embrace the rail ends and means 3. a

pted to be secured to the rails to support the box and hold the rail ends in alignment.

2. Means for forming welded joints be-' tween rail ends,

comprising a mold receiv ing box to embrace the rail ends having lateralextensioins to be secured to the rails.

3. Means for forming-welded joints between rail ends, comprisin a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends having integral extiensions adapted to be secured to the rail we s.

4. Means forflforming welded .joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receivin box to embrace the rail ends having 'latera extensions adapted to be secured to the rail webs on both sides of the rail.

5. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends having lateral extensions adapted to be secured to the rail webs by the-usual fish plate or splice bar fastening means.

6. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends, and lateral extensions of said box adapted to engage with and be secured to the rail ends in substitution of the usual fish plates or splice bars.

7. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising mold receiving box' sections adapted to be applied to opposite sides of the rails to enclose the rail ends, and means adapted to support the mold box sections and lock the rail ends together.

8. Means for forming welded joints becomprising mold receiving box sectionsadapted to be applied to opposite sides of the rails to embrace the rail ends, each box section having lateral extensions to engage with'and be secured to the rail ends in substitution-of the usual fish plates or splice bars.

- 9. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising mold receiving box sections adapted to be applied to opposite sides ofthe rails to embrace the rail ends, each box section having integral lateral extensions to engage with and be secured to the rail ends in substitution of the usual fish plates or splice bars. p 10. Means for forming'welded joints between rail ends, comprising mold receiving box sections adapted to embrace the rail ends and having their side walls conforming to the contour of the lateral faces and base section of the rails and having lateral extensions of the side walls of said sections adapted to engage the sides of the rails and be secured thereto by the usual fish plate or splice bar bolts.

11. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprisin a mold receiving box to embrace the rai ends, provided with lateral extensions having the general configuration of a splice bar and adapted to be secured to the rail ends in substitution of the usual splice bars.

12. Means for forming welded joints be tween rail ends, comprising mold receiving box sections adapted to be applied to opposite sides of the rails to embrace the rail ends, each box section having lateral extensions to engage with and be secured to the rail ends in substitution of the usual fish plates or splice bars, and each box section also having a lateral opening to facilitate the application of the core and the ramming of the mold.

13. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends, means adapted to be secured to the rails to support the box and hold the rail ends in allgnment, and a jumper secured to the mold box and spanning the rail joint to take the load off the rails adjacent the joint.

14. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends, means adapted to be secured to the rails to support thebox and hold the rail ends in alignment, and a jumper including oppositely inclined ramp sections overlying tie rail treads at the joint, and means for securing the jumper to the casting installation on the outside of the rails.

15. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends, means .lbl

adapted to be secured to the rails to support the box and hold the rail ends in alignment, and a jumper including oppositely inclined ramp-sections overlying the rail treads at the joint, flanges engaging the rail. 'grooves, and means for securing the jumper e to the casting installation on the outside of the rails. I

16. Means for forming welded joints between rail ends, comprising a mold receiving box to embrace the rail ends, means adapted to be secured to the rails to support the box and hold the rail ends in alignment,

and a jumper including oppositely inclined ramp sections overlying the rail treads at the joint, and lugs on the jumper for securing the latter to the mold box on the outside of the rails.

17. Means for forming welded joints be tween rail ends, comprising amold receiving box to embrace the rail ends, and a, jumper secured to the mold box and spanmng rail joint totake the jacent the joint.

18. Means for tween rail ends,

ing box to emb the load off the rails adforming welded joints becomprising a mold receivrace the rail ends, and a,

jumper secured to the mold box and spanning the rail joint and mold box and including oppositely inclined ramp sections engaging the rails at either side of said joint and mold box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN H. DEPPELER. 

